Chapter 17

Takayama Haru pressed down gently.

In an instant, countless roots and vines shot out, wrapping around Yamakaze tightly.

This time, Yamakaze had nowhere to run.

Before long, the forest created by the Deep Forest Emergence began to wither rapidly, visibly shrinking, until only ten "dumplings" remained — the Root operatives wrapped up in vines.

"Ugh…"

At that moment, Kushina, lying in Takayama Haru's arms, trembled slightly as her long eyelashes fluttered.

She suddenly awoke from her nightmare.

Looking up, she saw that Haru was right in front of her.

"Haru, are you okay?!"

Kushina reached out frantically, tears welling in her eyes. She hugged him tightly, her voice trembling with emotion.

In that terrifying illusion just now, she had seen Haru fall to the ground, covered in blood. It had shaken her to her core.

Scenes flashed through her mind — the first time she met the dirty, disheveled Haru on the road from Uzushio to Konoha, enrolling in the academy together, graduating together, and now, Haru coming to save her… Every moment was etched into her memory.

It was then that Kushina realized just how much she cared about him.

Haru gently stroked her soft, red hair and said in a low voice, "Silly girl…"

Kushina nodded in his arms and murmured, "I really am stupid… I actually fell for a genjutsu."

"Hmph."

A sudden voice interrupted from behind Takayama Haru.

Kushina immediately lifted her head and pushed him away in embarrassment.

It was none other than the matriarch of the Uzumaki clan, Lady Mito, accompanied by the Third Hokage.

As for Minato behind them… Kushina subconsciously ignored him.

Lady Mito shot a glare at Hiruzen Sarutobi — the boy had finally opened up, and now this old man wanted to interfere?

Hiruzen sighed helplessly. If he didn't speak up soon, the ten Root agents would probably suffocate or be crushed to death.

One look was enough for him to recognize them — they were all under Danzo's Root division.

What a collection.

Have you gone mad?

Just then, Uchiha Fugaku arrived with several Uchiha clan members in tow.

Hiruzen turned and said, "Fugaku, you're just in time. Set up a perimeter and keep all non-essential personnel out."

Fugaku glanced at Takayama Haru, surprise flashing across his face.

It really was Haru!

That terrifying forest technique from earlier — it had been Haru's doing?

The power of a reawakened Senju bloodline was truly overwhelming…

Though stunned for a moment, Fugaku quickly replied, "Yes, Lord Hokage. But… what about these people?"

"As long as you keep everyone else out, I'll handle the rest."

"Yes, Lord Hokage!"

Uchiha Fugaku immediately had his clan members create a cordon around the area.

The Hyuga and Yamanaka families were also blocked from approaching.

Hiruzen looked at Haru and said, "Haru, release them for now."

"Third Lord Hokage, do you know these people?"

Hiruzen sighed, just as a series of footsteps approached from behind.

Everyone turned to look.

Danzo had arrived, along with the Hokage's two senior advisors, Homura Mitokado and Koharu Utatane.

"They're my men, Takayama Haru. Release them."

Danzo glanced at the ten Root operatives who were tightly bound, his heart skipping a beat.

Haru's power had grown this strong?

I've really made a serious mistake this time.

Still, Danzo quickly composed himself.

Haru didn't respond.

Kushina's eyes widened as she stared at Danzo.

What exactly were Konoha's top brass planning?

Why had they attacked Haru?

"You were hiding them all along, Danzo…"

Hiruzen was still trying to gather his thoughts when suddenly, golden chakra flames erupted from Lady Mito's body.

A claw formed from Nine-Tails chakra shot out and seized Danzo by the throat, lifting him off the ground.

"Shimura Danzo! Your men dared to attack Takayama Haru? What are you trying to pull?!"

Lady Mito's shoulders trembled in fury — she was absolutely livid.

The deaths of Uzumaki clan members? That had been an accident.

The decline of the Senju? Also an accident.

Even Nawaki's death had been written off as a tragic accident.

But now?

Haru had been publicly attacked in the heart of Konoha.

There was no way this could be explained as anything other than deliberate.

She was furious beyond words.

Did Konoha's leadership really intend to eradicate the last pureblood Senju?

"Shimura Danzo, you served as the Second Hokage's elite guard! How could you do something like this?! What are you trying to achieve?!"

Only now did Danzo realize he'd really gone too far. His eyes widened as he clawed at the hand gripping his neck, feet flailing in the air.

"I've always followed the ideals of the First and Second Hokage… Everything I've done has been for Konoha! I swear, I had no selfish intentions!"

"That night, Haru's actions were… suspicious. I just wanted to bring him in to ask questions…"

"I didn't mean to hurt him…"

"This was all a misunderstanding — an accident!"

Danzo clutched his neck, barely able to breathe.

With the Nine-Tails' chakra claw gripping him, he couldn't perform a single jutsu.

And to be honest, after enjoying years of high status and comfort, Danzo had long since lost the ruthlessness of his youth.

What shocked him most was that Lady Mito — who hadn't fought in twenty years — still had this much power.

So this… was the power of the Nine-Tails?

Her sudden action threw Homura and Koharu completely off.

They had originally planned to let Haru strike first — that way, they could accuse him of insubordination.

But now, with Lady Mito intervening so decisively, what could they possibly say?

Any underhanded tricks they had planned were useless in the face of the Uzumaki matriarch.

Her standing in the village was unmatched.

Seeing that Danzo was about to be strangled to death, Homura and Koharu quickly stepped forward.

"Lady Mito, please… put Danzo down, won't you?"

"Yes, that's right. Danzo was only thinking of the village. Maybe there's been some kind of misunderstanding between them?"